The Rural New York Initiative (RNYI) is an effort to further enhance the Department of Development Sociology`s engagement with researchers, policy makers, and other stakeholders around New York State and provide critical and up-to-date information on rural New York people and communities, establishing the Department as a key source of social scientific research-based information on rural New York.

In the Department of Development Sociology, CALS, and beyond, there are numerous research agendas focused on issues relevant to rural New York State. The efforts of the RNYI initiative serve to integrate these various research and outreach efforts, and connect them with key policy makers and stakeholds around the state. The RNYI strengthens intra-Departmental synergies and collaborations, and provides institutional and technical resources to support the Department of Development Sociology`s applied research efforts focused on rural New York. This networking with a broad range of researchers, institutes and stakeholders across New York State creates and supports a broad inter-institutional dialoge about key issue areas, as well as a means to disseminate relevant rural New York-based work.

The Rural New York Initiative is currently engaged in a major effort called the "Rural Visioning Project" (RVP) in collaboration with CaRDI and the NYS Legislative Commission on Rural Resources. Activities include the Empire State Poll, Rural Research Roundtables, the Future of Rural New York Seminar Series, and a website providing information on relevant NYS issues. The current focus of the RVP is a series of nine regional listening sessions across NYS, where information is gathered about current rural NYS issues and programmatic and/or policy responses to promote and support sustainable community and economic development. The listening sessions are organized with CCE Regional Chairs. Approximately 45 people have attended each session to date, with broad representation from CCE, elected officials, community members, non-profit groups, and local and state agencies. Summary notes and narrative from each session are posted to the Rural New York Initiative website (rnyi.cornell.edu) and a final report will be compiled this spring. A web survey provides an additional vehicle for capturing input. Planning is underway for a major statewide conference this July on the State of Rural New York. Cornell faculty will form working groups with policy analysts on specific issues that have emerged from the listening sessions, convening with stakeholders at the statewide conference, to identify policy and programmatic responses, and to identify areas where future research is needed.

The Rural New York Initiative supports increased economic opportunities and improved quality of life in rural communities through enhanced research-outreach-extension-stakeholder-policymaker engagement in NYS, and through the dissemination of research-based materials to facilitate informed decision making. A clearer understanding and articulation of the social and economic forces affecting rural people and communities in NYS will yield better informed and targeted state, local and national policies to increase economic opportunities, strengthen communities, and improve the overall quality of life for rural residents. This state-wide engagement is institutionalized through formal relationships between Cornell University and the NYS Legislative Commission on Rural Resources, SUNY, CCE, other state and local policymakers and supports more systematic public input into research and extension programs focused on rural development. Continued engagement will ensure that Cornell University is responsive to stakeholder needs, informs the policymaking process, and contributes to enhanced jobs, incomes and communities for rural New York.

• Federal Formula Funds - Research (e.g., Hatch, McIntire-Stennis, Animal Health)
• Polson Institute for Global Development, Department of Development Sociology

• David L. Brown
• Max Pfeffer